Waco High School - Daisy Chain Yearbook (Waco, TX)

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VVaco was again called upon to meet the Lions, this time in an important quarter- final game. Contrary to all predictions, the first half consisted of an extremely stout de- fensive battle. During the whole first quarter there was no score. The second quarter did produce two VVaco touch- downs. The first came when, early in the period. Harry Gardner intercepted a pass from the very arms of a Tyler receiver and galloped back up the field, with the assistance of beautiful blocking-3 by Mc- Collum, for about go yards and ai Tiger score, Then, later in the period, Leverett Bowen took a Tyler punt on his own 48 yard line and tight roped up the side line, worming away from Tyler tacklers, until he was in the clear and free to score the second VVaco touchdown. This was one of the most beautiful exhibitions of swivel-hipped running ever turned in by a VVaco player. VVith all this excitement, the Tigers had made only three first downs during the first half, and facing the strong Tyler passing attack, their position seemed extremely precarious. But three plays after the third period opened, Blanton, who had been injured earlier in the game but had returned to the lineup, shot through a wide hole over left tackle and skipped past the dazed Tyler secondary into the clear for a touch- down. The play gained 45 yards and put the Tigers ahead zo to o. After the kick- off, in practically no time, Tyler, aided by two pass interference rulings, had driven from VVaco's .to to a touchdown. VVaco slashed right back down to the Tyler zo yard line, from which point Burke heaved a remarkable running pass. bearing a striking similarity to the one he had thrown against Breckenridge the pre- vious week, squarely into the waiting arms of Orville Post, who leaped up beautifully to snare in the ball as he stood in the end zone between two Tyler de- fenders. The Lions replied with a splen- did series of passes, making the score 27 to I3 in favor of VVaco. But the Tigers were not to be denied, and as the XVaco line came charging in to rush the harried Tyler passer, Blanton intercepted his des- perate heave and weaved his way through a broken field .io yards to the Tyler goal. Not content with this, the Tigers scored once more, when Lloyd Myers inter- cepted another Tyler pass on the Lion 20 and raced unmolested to a touchdown. It is indeed gratifying that Myers, who had rllffilnffllzzz reefs off yarrfagc ngninrf lfiffrfmro fenm.

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Eve minutes had passed, Waco had made a sustained drive from its own zo yard line to the Buckaroo end zone. Before the quarter closed, Gardner had re- covered a Breckenridge fumble and the Tigers had possession of the ball on the Breckenridge zo yard line. As the second period opened, Burke started on what looked like an end run, but instead oi continuing on his course, he archcdia pass, on the dead run, squarely into the waiting arms of Orville Post who stoodealli by himself in the end zone some away. This was probably the niost'1glgo'ril ous single moment in the wholeiiTiger season. Bowen put the Tigers ahead with an excellent conversion that sailed' squarely between the uprights. VVaco scored once more before the half ended, as Pulattie carried an intercepted pass So yards to pay dirt. The blocking on this play was so devasting that no Brecken- ridge player ever touched the flying Bena gal fullback. Through the whole third quarter and the first part of the fourth, an intense defensive struggle raged be- ll fl'he,.s'trong determination in Hghting on tween the zo yard lines, with neither team being able to score. Finally late in the last quarter, Burke made a beautiful +2 yard return of a punt, giving the Tigers the ball on the Buck 7 yard line. After a 5 yard penalty had put it back to the IZ, McCollum sneaked through center on a fake spinner play for the touchdown. ,B The Breckenridge contest was one of tlieimost spectacular ever played in Waco. to victo-ryfafter giving I3 points to a team of the Breckenridge calibre was almost 9-:si ' i f 1 T, N . -miraculous. lhe great offensive play of Bowen and Burke, and the fine defensive .work of Pulattie, Gardner, and Post were aiurtstanding. But no one player could be called the VVaco star, for the whole team played with such power and precision that every man looked like a star in doing his own job. This was probably the most exciting game ever played in lXIuny stadium. Ifzzco ,l0+Tyler IQ Three weeks after the first Tyler rout, Stephen F. flustin, Hnurlmz, .rfojws Uinco mlfwzzzrz' on goal line.

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contributed so nobly in the line that the Tiger backs might cover themselves with glory, had his own moment of personal triumph, The staying power of the Tigers was truly wonderful in this offensive classic. They proved once again that they were true champions. Blanton's passing, the line play of Myers, Gardner, and Vogel, the excellent play of Post at end, and the magnificent blocking of McCollum, were stand-out personal performances. But all of the Tiger players fought with savage fury and played with clocklike precision, so that no one could really be called VVaco's star. They were all stars. IIYIIVO 77Sft'f1lIt'lI F. iflhffl-ll U The Tigers had to go to Houston for their semifinal contest. There, at Rice Stadium, they met and defeated the huge Stephen F. Austin High School team of Houston on a rain drenched field. The game was as bitter and bruising as any the Tigers ever played. All afternoon it was a battle of lines. It was pound, pound, pound, with every man on the field taking a tremendous physical beating. The VVaco defense held magnificently in this, the one game in which the Tiger offense was throttled. VVaco fought its way down al- most to the Nlustang goal time and again, only to be thrust back hy that heavv fight- ing Houston line. At last, as the final seconds of the first half approached, VVaco took the ball on the Stephen F. Austin zo, after it had been repulsed from the very goal line a few minutes before. From here, Bob Burke faded back and heaved one of his famous long passes to Orville Post who was waiting on the 2 yard line. But Post was not in the clear. He was surrounded by Nlustang players. However, this fact didn't seem to bother him, for he leaped up from their midst, making a miraculous catch, and stepped over the goal, giving the Tigers their only store and a victory. Never did Stephen F. Austin seriously threaten, though it made one penetration in the third quarter on a long pass that was good for about go yards. The VVaco-Stephen F. Austin game will go down in history as one of the truly great defensive battles of all time. Such fury is seldom seen on a football field as was shown by both teams that day. The achievement of the VVaco line in holding the powerful Mustangs scoreless and in keeping the ball in Houston territory Pzllrlffic rr111't quite' t'Ilfl'lI il 115 Tyler closes in. '-if